Liveable Cities Forum: what's at stake?

The Philippine EV Community attended the @Liveable Cities Philippines Forum at Ayala Triangle. Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, CEO of AC Mobility, was the first speaker.

Several key points from the forum included:

30% of the country's total greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation.
Challenges for EV adoption remain but are manageable for a better long-term outcome, including:
- Relatively high purchase prices of EVs
- Regulatory challenges
- Range anxiety

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the automotive industry contributes 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, whereas the entire lifespan of an EV reduces emissions by 70%. Price parity for EVs is expected by 2027. Currently, AC Mobility represents 75% of new energy vehicles (NEVs) and is expected to complete 250 charging points by the end of the year.

Dennis Ng, CEO of Mober, the country's first and only dedicated electric vehicle logistics company, shared that Mober now has 100 EVs in its fleet, covering Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Iloilo, Bicol, and Metro Manila. Mober independently developed the technical knowledge to troubleshoot EVs and sources the body, chassis, and battery separately to cut costs. This approach naturally led to the development of their own Battery Management System (BMS).

Ng also mentioned that the coding exemption not only benefits passenger vehicles but also supports businesses, as gaining an extra operational day per week translates to significant additional income for their company. Mober's fleet includes various EV configurations, as there is no one-size-fits-all solution for business logistics. However, one major challenge for Mober is financing, as banks currently do not offer loans for commercial EVs. Mober also plans to expand to Bangkok, Thailand, in 2025.

Freddie Tinga, president of Global Electric Transport (Comet), shared that their fleet reduces operating costs by 70%. While commercial/public utility EVs can be expensive, their profit-sharing business model helps make EV adoption more feasible.

Mayor Wes Gatchalian of Valenzuela City also announced that their police fleet will begin transitioning to EVs by 2025.